The Friends of Fort Trumbull to explore Connecticut Women and the Fight for Suffrage during World War I

Posted by June Hoye, Community Contributor

Campaigning for The Vote for Women

Campaigning for The Vote for Women (Posted by June Hoye, Community Contributor)

Community Contributor June Hoye

The Friends of Fort Trumbull are honored to present as our May speaker Doctor Tracey Wilson who will speak on Outrageous and Courageous: Connecticut Women and the Fight for Suffrage during World War I. Doctor Wilson is a retired teacher from Conard High School in West Hartford. She received a Master's degree in history from Trinity College, and a Doctorate in U.S. history from Brown University. She has long studied the Connecticut Women's Suffrage movement. She has also served as a volunteer Town Historian in West Hartford and has written a regular local history column for West Hartford Life.

One hundred years ago, in 1917, as America was about to enter World War I, most women citizens were still prevented by law from voting. However, the women of the suffrage movement were prescient in understanding how this calamitous war could help their cause.

Their strategy was to use women's work in the service of the war to change public opinion and politicians' views. In an effort to show that women's suffrage groups were patriotic, women in large numbers joined the war effort. In Europe, they served as nurses, ambulance drivers, and volunteers; at home, they raised money for the war effort and led the conservation effort to produce food at home. It wasn't until two years later in 1919 that the U.S. Congress finally approved a universal suffrage amendment. Their strategy during this long, arduous journey had finally succeeded.

Doctor Wilson will elaborate on how this strategy was carried out in Connecticut. One of her former students has written, "Amazing Teacher. She really cares about her students; she's active in the community. She is a really funny person and loves to talk about current events…" This is a presentation you won't want to miss.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, May 25, 2017, at the Fort Trumbull Conference Center, 90 Walbach Street, New London, CT at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to attend this free presentation, and new members are always welcome. Come early as seating is limited. More information about the Fort, the 2017 Speaker Series-World War I - the War to End All Wars, and the Friends of Fort Trumbull is available at www.fortfriends.org

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